Mexico City: Supreme Court Cancels Federal Abortion Ban, Expanding Access Nationwide
Breaking news from Mexico City as the Supreme Court issues a ground-breaking order, overturning the federal law that prohibits abortion. This monumental decision reaffirms the court’s previous ruling that criminal charges against abortion are unconstitutional and affirms every woman’s right to access crucial healthcare services.
Previously, in 2021, the 11-judge High Court of Mexico had declared the abortion ban unconstitutional, but solely in the northern state of Coahuila. However, this latest order will now extend the availability of abortion services throughout the entire country. It is an immense victory for activists who have tirelessly fought for abortion rights in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, as reported by Reuters news agency.
Mexico’s Supreme Court’s order marks the latest significant step forward in a series of rights advancements in Latin America over recent years, demonstrating a shifting societal and legal landscape in the region. Isabel Fulda, deputy director of Information on Reproductive Choice (GIRE) – the organization behind the case – expressed her opinion on the ruling, remarking, “If there wasn’t an order like this in Coahuila two years ago, today’s verdict would not have been possible. This ruling will benefit a larger number of people.”
The Court thoroughly analyzed GIRE’s compelling argument challenging the Federal Penal Code. In a statement posted on X, the court explicitly stated its finding that the abortion section of the Federal Penal Code is unconstitutional and violates the rights of birthing individuals.
Abortion rights activists believe this significant decision will enable federal health systems in Mexico to provide essential abortion services, particularly crucial as the country considers centralizing its healthcare sector.
While women’s organizations across Mexico welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling, anti-abortion groups vehemently condemned it. The organization Conparticipation, in X, alleged that the verdict discriminates against the fetus and abandons women.
Mexico, the second-largest Catholic country globally, has traditionally held a largely conservative stance against abortion. However, times are changing within Latin America. Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia have decriminalized abortion, while restrictions in Chile are limited. Conversely, countries such as El Salvador and Honduras have enacted complete bans on the practice.
Parallelly, the United States experienced a significant setback to abortion rights as the Supreme Court overturned its protections in 2022. Remarkably, nearly half of the states had already imposed severe restrictions on access to abortion.
Content Highlights:
- Supreme Court of Mexico upholds nationwide abortion rights, providing federal access
Mexico City: The Supreme Court of Mexico issued an order canceling the federal law that prohibits abortion.
The order reaffirmed the court’s earlier ruling that criminal charges against abortion were unconstitutional and allowed access to health care services.
In 2021, the 11-judge High Court of Mexico ruled that the ban on abortion was unconstitutional, but only in the northern state of Coahuila.
The new order will expand abortion services throughout Mexico. The Reuters news agency said it was a great victory for those working for abortion rights in the Roman Catholic country.
The Supreme Court’s order is the latest in a series of rights developments in Latin America over recent years.
“If there was no such order in Koveela two years ago, such a verdict would not have happened now. “The current ruling will benefit more people,” said Isabel Fulda, deputy director of Information on Reproductive Choice (GIRE), which brought the case.
The Court accepted GIRE’s argument challenging the Federal Penal Code.
In a statement posted on X, the court said it found the abortion section of the Federal Penal Code to be unconstitutional and violates the rights of those who give birth to children.
Abortion rights activists said it would allow federal health systems to perform abortions, which is important as Mexico considers centralizing the health sector.
The Washington Post reported that while women’s organizations welcomed the ruling, anti-abortion groups condemned the ruling. In X, the organization Conparticipation stated that this ruling discriminated against the fetus and abandoned women.
In Mexico, the second largest Catholic country in the world, public sentiment was against abortion. But according to The Washington Post, change is coming in Latin America.
Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia have decriminalized abortion. Restrictions are limited in Chile. But countries including El Salvador and Honduras have banned it.
Meanwhile, when the Supreme Court struck down abortion rights in the United States in 2022, nearly half of the states had restricted access to abortion.
Content Highlights: Mexico’s Supreme Court upholds abortion rights nationwide, paving the way for federal access
#Supreme #Court #canceled #ban #abortion #majority #Catholic #country #Mexico
.jpg)
